Melbourne City have signed two more Matildas but will reportedly be without Welsh superstar Jess Fishlock as they seek a fourth consecutive W-League championship.
Australian internationals Elise Kellond-Knight and Tameka Butt have both joined City for the upcoming season, the club announced on Monday.
Kellond-Knight, 28, hasn’t played in the W-League since 2015, having spent the last three summers with 1.FFC Turbine Potsdam in Germany and Hammarby in Sweden.
Butt, meanwhile, has shifted south after 10 years with Brisbane Roar — a move dictated by the 27-year-old’s employment opportunities outside of football.
They are handy signings for new head coach Rado Vidosic, who takes over the reins of City’s women’s football operations from Patrick Kisnorbo this season.
However, the cornerstone of the club’s recent W-League domination appears unlikely to return.
Fishlock is reportedly poised to sign for Olympique Lyonnais, widely recognised as one of the world’s best women’s clubs.
It is a move that would preclude the 31-year-old midfielder from playing in the W-League this season.
Fishlock is arguably the greatest import the competition has seen, having won the championship in each of her four campaigns in Australia.
The first was with Melbourne Victory, before she switched to crosstown rivals City when they were admitted to the W-League in 2015-16.
City have won all three subsequent Grand Finals, with Fishlock serving as either an assistant or interim head coach in every season.
Fishlock’s move to Lyon is yet to be made official, with neither the player nor the club having confirmed it, while City have not responded to a request for comment from AAP.
But her departure would open up room for City to bring in a big-name replacement.
City have 12 players confirmed for the upcoming season, including returning Matildas Steph Catley and Kyah Simon, plus new recruits Helen Caceres (Western Sydney) and Adriana Jones (Adelaide).